In addition to whisky, gin, and hearty meals, Scotland has a thriving selection of chocolate shops. If you have a sweet tooth and are looking for something to fill that cocoa craving while in the Highland Capital, you’ve come to the right place.
A wide variety of chocolate shops in Inverness can cater to the chocolatier in you, and all are just a stone’s throw away from your accommodation. So, from rich dark chocolate to milky white chocolate, don’t forget to enjoy your just desserts while exploring Inverness’ attractions.
Chocolate Shops in Inverness, Scotland
Sprinkled throughout the city of Inverness, visitors can look forward to a splendid selection of flavours and textures from some of the best chocolatiers in Scotland. Here are the shops and markets that you absolutely cannot miss while passing through Inverness:
Hotel Chocolat, Inverness
If you’re an avid chocolate lover, you’ll likely have heard of Hotel Chocolat. This franchise has branches of chocolate shops throughout Scotland and frequently makes a list when people talk about chocolate shops in Inverness.
The selection of chocolates at Hotel Chocolat is seemingly endless, and you can look forward to everything from orange chocolate, chilli chocolate, and patisserie chocolate — but that’s truly only the tip of the iceberg.
The shop also has excellent gift options, making it the go-to place to snag a sweet treat for somebody back home! Their chocolate shop tasting is also something that we must remember, with the Inverness branch even offering secret tastings for 10 lucky guests after hours. Take advantage of your opportunity to indulge in quality chocolate.
The Chocolate Place
The Chocolate Place is an artisanal chocolate haven for visitors who want to experience cocoa products they’ve never tasted. The Chocolate Place prides itself on creating chocolate as nature intended, without any artificial colours or preservatives.
If you have a gluten allergy or are vegan, you’ll be glad to know that most of the chocolates offered at The Chocolate Place are gluten-free, wheat-free, dairy-free, and egg-free – and mainly use Belcolade chocolate. The store regularly offers divine chocolate at the Inverness Farmer’s Markets, where you can choose from delicious handmade artisan chocolates made in the store’s chocolate kitchen.
Young Auld Sweetie Shop
You can find this little gem of a store on Church Street in Inverness, and it is one of the most unique and charming gift shops in the entire city. And while Young Auld Sweetie Shop is slightly cheating, since they offer a range of toffees, boiled sweets, nougats, and even fudge in addition to a selection of chocolates, I’m sure you won’t mind.
Walking into the Young Auld Sweetie Shop is a fascinating experience. It creates a sense of nostalgia as though you were walking into Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory for the first time. While exploring the heart of Inverness, Young Auld is one confectionary paradise from which you should pick up a treat or two.
Victorian Market
The Victorian Market is one of the most famous attractions in Inverness, and for good reason. This gem opened in the 19th century and has been a prominent place for market shops. Enclosed from the elements, the Victorian Market is open sunny or rainy and offers a wide selection of boutiques and stores to peruse, including a chocolate shop or two!
The distinctive design of the Victoria Market covers 130 metres (or 400 feet if you want that in both metric and imperial units) and sits alongside the River Ness. You want you to want to visit a chocolate shop; Inverness’ Victoria Market is one of the first places you should be planning your trip to. Here are our favourites:
Story Chocolates
With reviews calling Story one of the best chocolates they’ve ever tasted, Story Chocolate, Inverness, is one of the most recommended places to visit while you’re in Inverness.
Visitors with a sweet tooth will fall in love with the Belgian chocolate offered at Story, with options with or without whisky and a wide selection of high-quality cocoa products without preservatives added for the holiday season.
The store’s quaint size makes it easy to miss, but you won’t want to leave once you find the store within the Victorian Market. If you consider yourself a chocolatier, Inverness’ Story Chocolates is a must-visit location.
Sweets for my Sweet
Also, in the Victorian Market, the confectionary story Sweets for My Sweets has an ample selection of delicious sweets to choose from if you want more variety, along with your slab of dairy and cocoa. If you’ve booked accommodation in Inverness’ centre, then all you need to reach the Market is to leave home, jump left along Academy Street, and you’ll be able to see the top chocolate shops Inverness has to offer.
While Sweets for My Sweet’s primary focus is on confectionery like fudge, nougat, and candy, they still have an excellent selection of Inverness chocolate.
Harry Gow Bakery
Harry Gow is a famous franchise of bakeries you can find throughout Scotland. Although they mainly focus on delicious cakes, you will discover mind-boggling chocolate cakes rich in flavour. Harry Gow Bakery makes their baked goods fresh and even lets you build your cake from scratch.
If you’re also thinking of complements to buy along with your chocolate while sampling some of the best chocolates in Inverness, you can choose between handmade cakes, hot chocolate, and piping hot coffee.
You can visit three Harry Gow Bakeries throughout Inverness, so wherever you are within the city, visiting attractions or settling down for the evening, you can always pop by to get your sweet tooth fixed!
